[S] Jeremiah 9:24 --
24 but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord."
[O] I like to boast about what I am good at or good stuff I have but lacks the initiative to boast about my God in heaven who loves me steadfastly, who is righteous and justice. I am so wrapped up in my own world that I don't leave room for God to be recognized in and through my own life and yet I consider myself being a delight in His eyes. God wants me to boast how good and wonderful He is to me and become the contagious agent to the people around me. That's what will delight Him. I need to stop trying too hard in my own ways to delight Him; instead I should boast His goodness.
[A] Start my day by boasting about how good God is to me and my family. End the day by thanking Him for steadfast love throughout the day.
[P] Dear Father, thank You for identifying my selfish perspective even while I am supposedly trying to please You. I am trying to do things on my own but based on this passage I will need to start boasting about Your greatness and that's all. No other strings attached. Thank you for letting me realize this and thank You for being my righteous God. In Jesus' name. Amen.
From my Life devotional journaling and more (Read Today's Passage)
Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
Showing posts with label Delight. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Delight. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Dwell and Cultivate Faithfulness
[S] Joshua 2:24; Psalm 37:3-5 --
24They said to Joshua, "Surely the LORD has given all the land into our hands; moreover, all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before us.
3Trust in the LORD and do good;
Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
4Delight yourself in the LORD;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.
5Commit your way to the LORD,
Trust also in Him, and He will do it.
[O] The message of going into Canaan and conquer that land continues as Joshua now assumes the commander in chief position after Moses passed away. The two spies he sent into Canaan (Jericho) returned with a convicted message of "Surely the LORD has given all the land into our hands." The Jericho fortress may seemed mighty but the hearts of the people living in it have already melted without any hope. As I think about that scene I'm almost thinking the walls of Jericho falling down after the Israelites circled for seven days may even symbolically display the hearts of the Canaanites living in there. I find myself doing the same thing -- the condition of my heart really displays through whatever I try to cover up on the outside. The melted hearts of the people were like the crumbling down walls of Jericho. So, the Israelites gained full confidence as they crossed the Jordan River to conquer Jericho.
Towards the end of Moses' life, the Israelites the new generation have learned to trust in God to obey and move forward into Canaan. Psalm 37:3 echoes the same sequence of Israelites: 1) Trust in the LORD; 2) Do good; 3) Dwell in the land; 4) Cultivate faithfulness; 5) Delight in the LORD; 6) He will give desires of the heart. The part that grabbed me was "dwell in in the land and cultivate faithfulness" because it seems like I'm at a crossroads about to enter and dwell in the land God has promised me; and then what comes after that is cultivating faithfulness of me and my family. Oh how I desire to do that!
[A] Today, Psalm 37:4 is seen with the backdrop of conquering Canaan and that's where I seem to be at also, just on this side of Jordan about to encounter it split up for me to enter that land. It is during the rainy season flooding the Jordan with rough currents. My mind is rushing through to find a way to cross at least a million people not to mention the mighty fortress of Jericho. Yes, the two spies reported a very positive outlook but what's seen ahead sure looks difficult if not too risky to fail. That is what my mind processes these days as I look beyond where our small group ministry is at. I want to apply Psalm 37:4 in light of my current situation. I want to delight in You God so You will mysteriously and miraculously provide the desires of my heart. Come Lord, Jesus, send Your Spirit to guide us and to fight ahead of us.
[P] Dear God, I delight in Your wonderful power and strength. I trust in Your leadership of my life, my family's lives, the small group ministry You put me in charge of. I give You all the glory and may what I do reflect Your wondrous beauty. In Jesus' name. Amen.
24They said to Joshua, "Surely the LORD has given all the land into our hands; moreover, all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before us.
3Trust in the LORD and do good;
Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
4Delight yourself in the LORD;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.
5Commit your way to the LORD,
Trust also in Him, and He will do it.
[O] The message of going into Canaan and conquer that land continues as Joshua now assumes the commander in chief position after Moses passed away. The two spies he sent into Canaan (Jericho) returned with a convicted message of "Surely the LORD has given all the land into our hands." The Jericho fortress may seemed mighty but the hearts of the people living in it have already melted without any hope. As I think about that scene I'm almost thinking the walls of Jericho falling down after the Israelites circled for seven days may even symbolically display the hearts of the Canaanites living in there. I find myself doing the same thing -- the condition of my heart really displays through whatever I try to cover up on the outside. The melted hearts of the people were like the crumbling down walls of Jericho. So, the Israelites gained full confidence as they crossed the Jordan River to conquer Jericho.
Towards the end of Moses' life, the Israelites the new generation have learned to trust in God to obey and move forward into Canaan. Psalm 37:3 echoes the same sequence of Israelites: 1) Trust in the LORD; 2) Do good; 3) Dwell in the land; 4) Cultivate faithfulness; 5) Delight in the LORD; 6) He will give desires of the heart. The part that grabbed me was "dwell in in the land and cultivate faithfulness" because it seems like I'm at a crossroads about to enter and dwell in the land God has promised me; and then what comes after that is cultivating faithfulness of me and my family. Oh how I desire to do that!
[A] Today, Psalm 37:4 is seen with the backdrop of conquering Canaan and that's where I seem to be at also, just on this side of Jordan about to encounter it split up for me to enter that land. It is during the rainy season flooding the Jordan with rough currents. My mind is rushing through to find a way to cross at least a million people not to mention the mighty fortress of Jericho. Yes, the two spies reported a very positive outlook but what's seen ahead sure looks difficult if not too risky to fail. That is what my mind processes these days as I look beyond where our small group ministry is at. I want to apply Psalm 37:4 in light of my current situation. I want to delight in You God so You will mysteriously and miraculously provide the desires of my heart. Come Lord, Jesus, send Your Spirit to guide us and to fight ahead of us.
[P] Dear God, I delight in Your wonderful power and strength. I trust in Your leadership of my life, my family's lives, the small group ministry You put me in charge of. I give You all the glory and may what I do reflect Your wondrous beauty. In Jesus' name. Amen.
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